The University of Kentucky College of Medicine Awards Convocation recognizes excellence across our institution. During the annual event, faculty, trainees and learners were recognized for their exceptional contributions to education, clinical care and service. On Oct. 21, synchronous events were held across our campuses.
2026 Awardees
Office of Graduate Medical Education
These awards recognize residents and fellows who demonstrate a passion for teaching, excellence in educating peers, medical students and other learners, and professionalism.
Resident Excellence in Teaching Award
- Yash Bhatia, M.D., a fourth-year resident in the Department of Psychiatry
Fellow Excellence in Teaching Award
- Aviraag Vijaya Prakash, M.D., a rheumatology fellow in the Department of Internal Medicine
Office of Biomedical Education
Outstanding Graduate Student Award
This award recognizes a graduate student in basic, translational or clinical research who demonstrates continued success in academics and research, along with service to the University or community.
- Annabel McAtee, a Ph.D. candidate in neuroscience and an M.D./Ph.D. student who works in the laboratory of Ann Stowe, Ph.D.
Outstanding Postdoctoral Researcher Award
This award recognizes a postdoctoral scholar or fellow in basic, translational or clinical research who demonstrates continued success in research and service to the University or community.
- Abhilash Prabhat, Ph.D., Department of Physiology
Dr. Madhav and Dr. Radhika Devalaraja Outstanding Graduate Student Thesis Award
This award recognizes a biomedical education graduate student entering their final year of study whose thesis demonstrates inspiring, innovative and high-impact research.
- Zachary Kipp, Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences
Office of Medical Education
Distinguished Teaching Awards
Medical students select recipients of the Distinguished Teaching Awards in recognition of teaching excellence and professionalism.
Core Principles Phase
This award recognizes faculty members who exemplify teaching excellence and professionalism in the first- and second-year curriculum by creating an encouraging and intellectually stimulating learning environment. Recipients promote critical thinking and demonstrate availability, sensitivity and respect.
- Bowling Green Campus
- Deanna Morris, Ph.D.
- Elizabeth Sternberg, D.O.
- Ben Banasiewicz, M.D.
- Northern Kentucky Campus
- Allana Oak, D.O.
- Riley Cutler, M.D.
- Brian Higgins, Ph.D.
- RPLP/Morehead Campus
- Rebecca Alemu, M.D.
- Lexington Campus
- Brian Higgins, Ph.D.
- Adam Gray, M.D.
- Avinash S. Bhakta, M.D.
- Peter Sawaya, M.D.
- Tyler Sims, M.D.
- Rolf Craven, Ph.D.
- Justin Rueckert, D.O.
- Samuel Franklin, Ph.D.
Application Phase
This award recognizes residents who demonstrate teaching excellence and professionalism while educating medical students during the Application Phase.
- Bowling Green Campus
- Daniel Mink, M.D.
- Northern Kentucky Campus
- Megan Yadav, M.D.
- RPLP/Morehead Campus
- Bridget McClain, M.D.
- Lexington Campus
- Dealla Samadi, M.D.
Irving and Esther Kanner Memorial Award
This award recognizes a medical student for high academic performance in the Core Principles Phase curriculum and excellence in physical diagnosis.
- Lauren Nunez, a third-year medical student in the Rural Physician Leadership Program at the Morehead Campus.
John F. Wilson Doctoring Award
This award recognizes students who demonstrate consistently insightful reflections on the practice of medicine through their Introduction to Clinical Medicine portfolio submissions during their first year.
- Bowling Green Campus
- Cameron Read
- Lizzy Wright
- Northern Kentucky Campus
- Brooke Van Vilet
- Melissa Eng
- Lexington Campus
- Sam Dell
- Levi McCoy
- Claire Bennett
- Maya Chang
- Claire Montowski
- Elaf Ghoneim
- Grejika Abra-Erby
- Gracie Blackstone
Advanced Clinical Skills Award
This award recognizes excellence in interviewing, physical examination and documentation during the second year of the medical curriculum.
- Bowling Green Campus
- Payton Abney
- Elissa Pepper
- Northern Kentucky Campus
- Caroline Reckers
- Clay Garrison
- Lexington Campus
- Panhavuth Phe
- Carlie Cryer
- Ameila Clark
- Elizabeth Ruschman
- Roma Desai
- Liberty Smallwood
- Courtney Jones
Entrustable Clinical Skills Award
This award recognizes excellence in clinical skills during the third year of the medical curriculum, including communicating with patients, interviewing, performing physical examinations and clinical reasoning.
- Bowling Green Campus
- Edward Major
- Ruthie Eastham
- Northern Kentucky Campus
- Jackson Snowden
- Nick Bowman
- Reagan Parker
- RPLP/Morehead Campus
- Hunter Akers
- Lexington Campus
- Rob Lawless
- Hollie Clifton
- Katie Collins
- Dominic Armagno
- Clayton Bobo
- Grace Boino
Other Awards
Several students across all four campuses were also recognized with Gold, Silver, and Bronze Service Awards. These awards recognize medical students who complete a certain number of hours of community service in a single academic year. (Gold = 100 hours, Silver = 50 hours, Bronze = 25 hours).
The Bowling Green Campus and Northern Kentucky Campus also awarded First and Second-year Achievement Awards to current M2s and M3s. This honor recognizes students who excelled academically by earning course distinctions in at least three courses while maintaining an average of 80% or higher on all other course exams last year.